London, May 14.
The early introduction' in Parliament of a measure for the consolidation of existing acts dealing with unemployment insurance 1s _an~ nounced. There have been 35 such facts. since 1920.
The third reading of the new Unemployment Bill, which has been. subjected to the prolonged examination in committee, was taken in the House of Commons to-day.
'The Labour Minister, Sir Henry Betterton, described it' as a great] contribution to social progress.
Tnter alia, it restores in full cuts in the rates of standard unemploy~ ment benefit, which Sir Henry said were now higher, having regard to the cost of living, than ever before "The Bill also extends to a possible 52 weeks the present period of 26 weeks during which a man may raw benefit as of right and without inquiry regarding his means. It is estimated that about 602,000 will benefit by this provision in the course of the year at a cost of about £7,500,000.
The Bill closes the gap between the age of leaving school and that of entry into insurance by placing, 2 duty on local education authorities to provide instruction for unemployed boys and girls and empowering the Minister of Labour to compel their attendance. {""The Minister claimed that solvency of the insurance fund had been secured and machinery provided to maintain it. The establishment of an independent board for central ad~ ministration and direction of policy [1s provided for. One of the Roard's duties is the promotion of welfare, but it is not the Government's intention that the Board should take over various voluntary occupational centres, which had been doing valuable work among the unemployed.—Wireless through Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.